Assighob to the guibebsoet



Jan. 31, 1928.

I. C. BELL MULTIPLE CUTTER DISK BIT Filed Nov. 12, 1924 '3 Sheets-Sheet l Ian. 31, 192s. v 1,657,604

I. c. BELL I MULTIPLE CUTTER DISK BIT Filed Nov. 12, 1924 3 Sheets-Shet Jam 31 1928. 1,657,604

1. C; BEL-L V MULTIPLE CUTTER DISK BIT Filed Nov. 12, 1924 3 Sheets$heet 3 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFltiliit IVAN C. BELL, O]? CAMERON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GUIIBERSON CORPORATION, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MULTIPLE-CUTTER-DISK Brr.

Application filed November 12, 1924. Serial No. 749,547.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in multiple cutter disk bits.

The object of the invention is to provide a drill bit for rotary Well drillingwhich will cut or drill through various formations such as rock, both hard and soft, shale, guinbo and other strata, at a comparatively high rate of speed, due to a plurality of peculiarly arranged rolling cutter disks, and which Will make more hole in a given length o'l time than those drill hits new in common use. i

A. :l'urtl'ler object of the "invention is to provide a bit having a plurality of rolling cutter disks so loosely mounted as to webble or oscillate, or mounted to shift laterally on their supports; whereby said disks not only cut or drill more ellioiently but are selfl sharpening while rolling and cutting, thus constantly performing at maximum el liciency; and further whereby grease and oil lubrication is eliminated and the disks are also made lioirclogging.

Another object is to ar ange the disks in stepped order on opposite sides ot the center of the drill, the disks preferably increasing in diameter outwardly, whereby the bottom of the hole is crowned, Which causes the drill to be self-centering and this makes tor straight drilling.

A still further object oi the invention is to provide a multiple disk drill which may be constri'lcted in a sturdy and strong manner as Well as economically and which will have a long life as compared with the bits now in use.

A particular object is to provide a head of such design that it Will provide amplified bearings for the disks and an etlicient arrangen'ient of Water passages.

hie of the improved features resides in the provision of removable and replaceable supports for the axles so that the cutters may be replaced Wl'ien Worn.

Another improvement is to provide replaceable portions on opposite sides of the bit at the points under-going the greatest wear.

A still further improvement resides in in wardly movable cutter disks having ample play to shift laterally and reduce the diameter of the bit sulliciently to pass through a casing and then shift outwardly to under roam the casing. I

Another imprm ement is to mount a pair of cutter disks in the same yoke and loosely upon the axle and properly spaced apart, whereby wobblin and selt-sl'iarpening disks may be mounted in close relation and Within a short radius from the center of the bit.

An important object of the invention is to mount the disks on axles which are disposed longi'tndinally on opposite sides of the transverse axis of the bit body whereby the disks are caused to drag as well. as roll during the rotation of the bit. A construction designed to illustrate the invention together with novel teattu'es in volved therein will be hereinafter more particularly described. i

The invention Will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanymg; drawings, in which example are shoivn and wherein:

1 is a front elevation of a bit constrncted in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is an underside view,

F 4-. is a cross-sectional View taken on the line l-*-l oil Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 8,

Fig. (3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, i I

Fig. T is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 7- 7 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a plan view,

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a modified form the bit,

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1010 o:t Fig. S),

Fig. 11 is an elevation of another form of bit structure, and

Fig. 12 is a. cross-sectional view taken on the line 1212 of Fig. 11.

This application is in part a continuation of my former application filed May 31st, 1924:, Ser. No. 716,970.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a bit body or stock having; a reduced tapered pin 11 or any other drill stein connection at its upper end. The pin is surrounded by'an outwardly directed shoulder 12. The upper portion of thestock is cylindrical, although this is merely a preferred design. web. or tongue 13 is provided at the'bottom of the stock and extends diametrically of the same. The vertical edges of the web are curved or flared upwardly to the circumference of the stock. 7

On each side of the web reduced fiatbosses or standards 14 are built up and disposed in offset relation to each other and parallel to. the web. The standards are spaced from the web. Complementary to the standards and spaced therefrom are cheek plates or wings 15 having shanks 16 at their upper ends. Thestock has shouldered flat seats 17 on each'side (Fig. 7) for receiving the shanks which have their outer surfaces shaped to. conform to the contour of the stock. 7 The lower portions of the plates are offset outwardly and sustain the wear when thehit is rotated.

Each plate-has avertical central key 18 on the inner side or face of its shank fitting in a key'way 19 in the seat17. The key and key-way may be dove-tailed or as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 they may be right angular as is shown at 18 and 19. The keys prevent displacement of the plates and take the shearing strain of the latter. It is oh vious that the plates may be attached in any suitable manner. The shanks are preferably fastened, each by a screw 20 entering the stock radially. However the plates may assume any desirable form and may be fastened to the stock 1n any suitable manner. For instance in Flgs. 11 and12 the key 1s 7 omitted and a second screw 21'is added for fastening the plate in place.

The lower portion of each plate is flared to. conform to its complementary standard l la'nd supports the outer end. of an axle 22. Each axle passes through the adjacent stand ard and has its inner end reduced and resting in an aperture 23 in the Web. The reduced end of each axle has a circumferential groove 24. The shouldered end of the axle abuts the flat side of the web. Each axle may have its outer end or head 25 screw threaded to engage in a screw threaded aperture in the lower end of the plate, or it may be fastened in any other suitable manner. The head when screw-threaded is provided with a kerf 26 for a screw driver or other tool. The web 13 has a longitudinal bore 27 intersectingthe bottoms of the apere tures 23 to receive a pin 28 which engages in the grooves, 24: and locks the axles in place; The pin may be suitably fastened as by cot- V ter keys 27 passing through the ends.

The dominating feature of the invention 7 is aipluralityof cutter disks loosely mount ed onthe: axles so as to undergo lateral or radial movement'relatively of the bit stock between the web and standard.

as Well as vertical or radial movement relatively of the axles. Such freedom and amplitude of movement permits the disks to wobble as they are rotated during the rotation of the bit. Also by this mounting each disk is free to move from a plane substan tially parallel to the vertical axis of the body 10 to a plane at an angle to said axis.

Such a mounting of the disks has many advantages. For instance they are selfsharpening and readily roll, thus securing traction and obviating peripheral rougheir ing or flirting. They do not need grease or oil lubrication and will not clog up. In the drawings 1 have shown three disks 29, 8t) and 31 and respectively, mounted on *ach axle. The outer disk 29 of each axle assembly is the largest, but is not as large as the disks usually employed on disk bits for boring the same diameter of hole. In fact better results have been obtained by the smaller disks,- but the size and number of disks is subject to variation.

Each. disk 29 is mounted on tl r axle between the standard 14 and the cheek plate 15 and is thickest at its hub portion; being reduced or inclined or one side toward its outer edge which is bevelled in the opposite direction, so as to flare from the plate. The space between each plate and its complementary standard is considerably greater than the thickness of the disk 29. This porinits the disk to move laterally on its axle or radially of the bit on the axle. The disk has a central aperture 29' larger than the diameter of the axle, whereby the disk may move radially of the axle and may dcllccl; or tilt from its normal vertical plane \Vllilo rotating, thus wobblin on its axle.

Between the web 13 and each standard 1-1 the disks 30 and 31 are mounted. The disk 30 has a central aperture 30' and is otherwise the same as the disk 25.), except that it is smaller in diameter. lulach disk ill is made. flat on both sides and of constant thickness. but this is subject to variation. The thickcned hub and inclined side of the disk ill) spaces the surfaces apart. The disk Ell. has an enlarged central aperture ill. The disksv b0 and Ellhave ample play along the axle l'ly mounting the disks 30 and 31 as described they are disposed close to the center of the bit and thus cut within a shorter radius than if they were separated by a support therchetwocn.

A well 32 is bored axially in the pin 11 and stock 10. ater ducts 33 are counterbored from the bottom of the well through the stock (Fig. 3) so as to discharge be tween the web and standards over the disks 30 and 31. Additional ducts El-l are counterbored through the stock and cheek plates to discharge over the disks L l). lt. will be seen that the disks are copiously supplied with water or slush and-are adequately washed.

ltltl til! Sufficient use of this bit has been made to demonstrate its advantages and to establish it as a continuous drilling tool. The radially or laterally movable and wobbling disks cut through rock, shale and sand as well. as they do through gumbo and other formations. Due to the wobbling of the disks and the adequate washing, nothing lodges between the disks and they do not clo Further they rotate freely, thus wearing evenly and maintaining their bevel and sharp edges.

As is shown in Fig. 8, the outer disks, 29 may be slid inward to lie within the circle A and thus reduce the diameter so as to pass down through the casing. \hen the bit is lowered below the lasing); the disks 29 will ride outward to the circle 13, thus increasing the dian'ieter and underreaniing the casing when the bit is rotated. The disks increasing in diameter outwardly of the bit will cause a slight crown on the bottom of the hole, thus centering the bit and making a. straight hole.

it will be clearly seen that the wear will he sustained ,by the disks and the cheek plates lo, the stock being thus protected. l v'hen the plates and disks are worn so as to he inellicient, the screws and the pin 28 *euioved and the axles 22 are unscrewed; whercby the disks may be taken out. After the axles are removed the cheek plates 15 may be removed. These parts may be re placed at a small cost.

As before stated the bores of the disks are made larger than the diameters of the axles,v that instead of having merely a turning fit and the play usually present, the clearance or play between the journal of each disk and its axle is such as to initially give the disk a very loose lit and a lateral or vertical movement or both, relative to the aide. This results in an lill'll'llllletl wobble, oscillation or shifting of the disk which is most prominent at its periphery and also can the disk to rota s freely. The disk thus becomes E%(.l'f--$5l'ldll73llll'lg and this sharpening is (nihauced by the shearing action of the edge of the disk, due to wobble, oscillation or shift. The illl'l]')llfi0(l movement not only makes for sharpei'rin and the retaining); of the circular edge, but causes faster cutting due to the shearing action.

in tlurther explanation, it may be stated. after 'XHHIIQ'EOUS tests by actual drilling, that the disks traversing circuil'oiu; or sinuous paths rather than regular circular paths and being;- under the downward pressure of the superimposed drill stem, not only cover a greater transverse area in their travel by peripheral contact with the bottom of the hole, but have a very effective self-sharpening; action, due to the wobble, the lead or offset of the disks from the transverse axis of the bit body and the weight placed upon the disks.

It is obvious that such disks will tend to chip off the rock and shale and. will out faster by keeping a sharp edge.

Comparison may be made with a lathe tool. If a piece of tool steel for instance was placed in a lathe tool holder and fed against a piece of work, in time, due to wear, the tool. would develop a sharp edge on its upper face, but the whole end face of the tool would be in contact with the work, it would therefore do very little cutting, however, if the end face of the tool was cut back at an angle from the cutting edge, then the tool would out fast and properly.

This same condition applies to a revolving cutting disk, and more so if the disk fails to revolve, because if the vertical plane of the disk is held true and at a constant distance from the center or vertical axis of the rotating bit, the cutting edge or periphery of the disk will naturally wear, but the whole cross area of the disk peri illery will be in contact, at the cutting arc, with the formation; thus xvi-raring so flat or so nea a right angle to the side of the disk, as not to do much cutting. illowever, i t the disk is mounted free enough to easily revolve and. so that its mriphery will shift transversely across its cutting are, there will be a much greater wi-iaring across the area of the periphery. By this the disk will be worn to a more acute angle back from its cutting edge and the smile relief or wear at the heel of the cutting face, will be had as is given to a lathe tool.

By maintaining a sharp cutting edge, by traversing a greater path and by u'ioving transversely of its cutting are, the disk cuts faster. A continuous drilling bit which goes through hard as well as soft formations without changing bits, whereas it has been necessary heretofore to come out of the hole and change bits because of the hard and soft TfOl'iiHilllUIl, is of great adiuintage, as will be appreciated by the driller. 'lhe ollscttino of the axles with relation to the transverse axis of the bit is very important as this gives the disks a drag and adds to their cutting); action. The central disks are also very effective in cutting}, out the core.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as nioditirailions and alterations may be made within the srope of the'appended claims.

l d hat I claim, is:

1. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, axles mounted transversely of the body in otlset relation, cutter disks initially loosely mounted on said axles and mo "able laterally when rotating, and remo able supports for the outer ends of the axles.

2. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, axles mounted transversely of the body in offset relation, cutter disks initially loosely mounted on said axles and movable laterally a plurality of freely rotatable disks mount-- ed on the body with their peripheries initially havingan amplified transverse movement relatively of their arcs or cutting contact, and outer wear members confining the disks and removably fastened'to the body.

5.111 a multiple cutter disk bit, a stock,

removable wear. men'ibers on each side of the stock, tansverse axles carried by the stock and the bit, and a plurality of cutter disks initially mounted to wobble said axles between said wear members.

6. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a stock having ,a drill connection at its upper end, supports depending from the lower end of the stock, the outer supports being removable, axles carried by the supports, and cutterdisks loosely mounted on the axles between the supports, said disks having a hubthickness less than the spaces between the supports, whereby said disks are free to. shift laterally at their peripheries and are self-sharpening.

7. In a-multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, supports at the lower end of the stock, removable wear members at the outer sides or the stock, axles carried by the supports and members, cutter disks initially mounted on the axles so as to wobble, and water ducts extending through the stock and discharging over the disks.

8. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock having diametrically opposite seats, cheek plates having shanks, means for fastening the shanks of the plates to the seats, supports depending from the bottom of the stock and spaced apart between the plates,

I axlcssecurcd in the supports and plates, and

a plurality of cutter disks initially loosely mounted on the axles and movable laterally and vertically,

'9. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a cylindrical bit stock having diametrically opposite seats, a transverse web at the bottom of the stock, cheek plates fitting on the seats,

standards between the web and plates, axles passing through the standards and having one end in the web and the outer ends in the plates, means for fastening the axles in the web, and a plurality of cutter disks n'ioun ted loosely to wobble on the axles be tween the web and standards and between the standards and the plates.

10,. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a cylindrical bit stock having diametrically opposite seats, a transverse web at the bottom of the stock, cheek plates fitting on the loosely seats, standards between the web and plates, axles passing through the standards and having one end in the web and the outer ends in the plates, means for fastening the axles in the web, and a plurality of cutter disks mounted loosely to wobble on the axles between the web and standards and between the standards and the plates, the outermost disks being oi greater diameter and movable inwardly to reduce the diameter of the bit.

11. In a multiple cutter disk bit, the combination with a bit body having spaced. supports and a transverse axle extending between said supports, of a cutter disk mounted on said axle between said supports and having a central aperture larger than said axle so as to move transversely of the axle, said disk being considerably less in thickness than the space between the supports so as to move longitudinally of the axle, said disk having one side inclined and its cutting edge bevelled.

1:2. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, axles mounted transversely of the body in oli'set relation, cutter disks loosely mounted on said axles and movable laterally and in a vertical plane, removable supports for the outer ends of the axles, and water ducts extending through the bit body and discharging over the disks.

18. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, a plurality of cutter disks initially mounted to wobble when the bit is rotated, removable cheek members confining the disks and taking the wear of the bit body, and water ducts extending through the bit body and discharging over the disks.

l t. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a stock having a central water well, a tool connection at the top of the stock, vertical seats on opposite sides of the stock having keyways therein, cheek plates provided with shanks fitting on the seats and having keys fitting in the keyways, a web depending from the center of the stock, standards in spaced relation between the web and the plates, otiset axles extending through the standards and engaging in the web and plates, means for fastening the plates to the stock and cutter disks mounted on the axles free to move laterally and vertically between the web and supports and between the supports and the plates, whereby said disks wobble when the bit is rotated.

15. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, and plurality of rolling cutter disks initially loosely mounted on the body and movable when rotating from a plane sul stantially parallel to the vertical axis of the bit body into a plane at an angle to the said axls.

16. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, axles mounted transversely ot the body in offset relation, cutter disks having Pill lUll

ll l

their circumferential surfaces reduced to cuttiing,- edges and mounted on the axles initially with suilicient play to wobble and become SGlfSlllllPGlllllQf When rotating, and removable supports for the outer ends of the axles.

17. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit body, axles mounted transversely of the body in effect relation, cutter disks having their circumferential surfaces reduced to cutting edges and mounted on the axles initially with suliicient play to wobble and become selfsharpening when rotating, removable supports for the outer ends of the axles, and means for reniovably securing the inner ends oi the axles in place.

18. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a body, a central de iiendinp; support carried by the body, outer depending supports carried by the body relatively on each side of the central support, and rotatable cutter disksjournaled on each. side oi the central support and between the latter and the outer supports, said disks being mounted initially with sui'iicient play at their journals to wobble while rotating and to be self-sharpening.

19. In a multiple cutter disk bit, a bit stock, supports at the lower end of the stock, axles carried by the supports, cutter disks mounted and maintained uprightly on the axles and initially tree to more laterally on. said axles while revolving, and

water ducts extending through the stock 22. In a multiple disk drill bit, a head, a

central. transverse web on the under part Of the head, axles ex tending from opposite sides of the web, and a plurality of rotatable cutter disks mounted and nuiiutained uprightly on said axles and initially free to move lat orally.

23. In a multiple disk drill. bit, a head, a

central transverse web on the under part of the head, axles extending from opposite sides of said web in parallel and offset relation and a plurality 01" rotatable cutter disks mounted on said axles and initially tree to move laterally.

24. In a multiple disk 'drill bit, a head having a plurality of parallel slots in its under side, and rotatable cutter disks having peripheral 'l aees less in width than the-slots,

said disks being mounted to initially. oscih late as well as to rotate in said slots.

25. In a multiple disk drill bit, a head, and a plurality of rotatable cutter disks on each side of the center of the head mounted to initially oscillate in the head while rotatinn" and each decreasing successively in diameter inwardly toward the center of the head.

26. In a multiple disk drill bit, a head, a plurality oi? loosely journaled upright cutter disks free to move laterally oi. their supports to reduce the diameter of the bit and tree to move laterally of the head outwardly to in.- clease the diameter of the bit.

27. In a. multiple disk bit, a bit body, a pair of rolling upright cutters mounted on opposite sides of the transverse axis of the body and at the central portion oi? the body, and a second pair of rolling upright cutters also mounted on opposite sides oi the transverse axis of the body and outwardly of the first named cutters, the outer cutters depending lower than the inner cutters, all cutters being located at the bottom of the bit body, all of said cutters being initially mounted to shift laterally at their periphcries.

28. In a. multiple cutter disk bit, a body, a central support depending; from the body, axles extending); from opposite sides of said central support and on opposite sides oi the transverse axis oi the body, outer supports carrying the ends of said aides, and a pair of rolling); cutters mounted on each axle, one adjacentthe center support and one adjacent the outer support, all of said cutters being); journaled on their axles initially With suitlicient play and loose enough to wobble when rotating.

In testimony whereof I IVAll BELL.

ailix my signature. 

